Chapter 3: The Next Generation

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Chapter 3: The Next Generation

Fortuna Office

>Itsuki, Mamori, and Barry are seen in Fortuna Office.

Barry: Mamori, did you make sure you didn't forget anything?

Mamori: Oh, yes, I have everything.. but I hope you remembered to bring your phone charger this time, Uncle Barry.

Barry: Ohhh nooo! Gah, I'm so dumb! Guess I forgot to bring it today too!

Mamori: *Sigh* Not again. I don't need mine for the rest of the day... Here, you can borrow it.

Barry: Oh, thank you, Mamori! You truly are a real live 3D angel from the heavens!

Mamori: An angel? I don't know about that.

>Maiko walks up to the three.

Maiko: Mamori, isn't it time for you to head back to the studio? Ayaha's waiting for you.

Mamori: Oh, I almost forgot!

Itsuki: Come on, Itsuki, send her off with a good word.

Itsuki: Good luck with the recording. I'll see you later.

Mamori: Thank you. I'll do my best! Goodbye then.

>Mamori walks away.

Maiko: Did you take that girl's charger again?

Barry: You don't have to say it like that!

Maiko: Can you believe him, Itsuki? Barry keeps "forgetting" his charger on purpose so he can borrow Mamori's.

Barry: Wh-What's wrong about that!? I'm the founding member of the Mamori Minamoto unofficial fan club!

Itsuki: I'm pretty sure a fan club doesn't really have anything to do with this...

Barry: That pure innocence, that heartwarming smile, and that cuteness that just makes you want to protect her...! Mamori is too good--too pure--for this world, and her unofficial fan club will shield her from the world's corruption!

Itsuki: ...

Maiko: Itsuki, do you know Mamorin...? As in, "Microwavin' with Mamorin"?

Itsuki: Oh, I just heard about that recently. It's the show that Mamori's on, right?

Maiko: Mhm. It's really doing fantastic in the ratings.

Barry: It's all thanks to Mamori. She's the most popular child star on the air!

Maiko: As you can see, she's getting a lot of fans like... this. What I'd LIKE to do is use her popularity to give her a chance to sing, but...

Itsuki: Now that you mention it... I remember Mamori saying that she wanted to work jobs in which she can sing.

Maiko: She's a good girl and a hard worker. She does like the job she has... but I'd like to get her some singing gigs.

Barry: Mamori makes a great hostess, but she really loves to sing... I can't wait to see her shine onstage as a singer! Which is why, as the head of the unofficial fan club, I swear I'll find something I can do to help her!

>Barry walks off.

Maiko: Barry... kinda gets even crazier than usual it comes to anything involving Mamori.

Itsuki: Yeah, I noticed...

Maiko: You'd never believe he used to be that incredible guitarist... You know, he even used to be a Mirage Master.

Itsuki: Wh- Really!?

Maiko: Yes. But during a battle with a powerful Mirage, he ended up sacrificing all the power he had... And he lost his Mirage. Barry felt responsible, and he fell into an awful depression... That was about when he quit the band. And then... well, a lot has happened in between, but now he's ended up our instructor.

Itsuki: I never knew Barry had a past like that... So... since Mamori works with this company, does that mean she's a Mirage Master too?

Maiko: Mamori's not a Master. She has the potential to be one, however.

Itsuki: Potential? Then does she also know about the Mirages?

Maiko: No. I haven't told her anything yet. She does have the aptitude... but I don't know if I want someone that young mixed into this fight. So, Itsuki... if the worst happens, I want you to be there for her. Okay?

Itsuki: Understood.

Maiko: Oh... it's about time I head out, too. See you later, Itsuki.

A few days later...

>The scene is still Fortuna Office. Itsuki is seen on his phone, and Tsubasa and Eleonora are talking together.

Eleonora: Hey, Tsubasa, have you heard? Sounds like our feature issue of "Nan-No" is selling pretty well.

Tsubasa: O-Oh, no... Now I'm getting all nervous thinking about how many people actually saw me in it...

Eleonora: What're you so anxious for...? You're in show business. The whole point is to get everyone's eyes on you.

>Mamori comes rushing into the office.

Mamori: E-Everyone! You have to listen!

Eleonora: Wha-!?

Tsubasa: Mamori?

Eleonora: What's gotten into you all of a sudden?

>Itsuki walks over to the three girls.

Mamori: L-Live on TV! Special feature! I've been chosen to be on "Serenade"! It's been my dream to get to perform on it!

Itsuki: Uh... "Serenade"?

Mamori: "Soulful Serenade"! Um, most people just call it "Serenade." It's an hour-long show on Daitou TV for traditional Japanese ballads, but they want to do a special two-hour show. Oh, "Serenade" is so amazing! All my favorite artists are going to be performing!

Itsuki: So... you're saying you'll get to perform in this show you really like?

Mamori: Yes! And Uncle Barry was the one who recommended me to the producers!

Itsuki: ... Barry did?

Mamori: He said he was friends with someone on the show. Apparently his friend watches "Microwavin' with Mamorin," too!

Itsuki: That's great that you get to be on such a big show... Congratulations, Mamori.

Mamori: Thank you! Oh, I'm so excited! I have to go to rehearsal now. I'll do my best!

>Mamori walks away. Some time has passed by; Itsuki, Tsubasa, Kiria, Touma, and Maiko are in the office, waiting for Serenade to start.

Tsubasa: Ohh... When is "Serenade" starting? I hope Mamori's not too nervous...

Maiko: Barry's with her, so she should be fine. I'm sure she's relaxed and enjoying being on the show. Putting that side... Itsuki.

Itsuki: Yes?

Maiko: There's... actually something that we were able to find out during that whole Horinozawa incident. Apparently he started acting differently when he took a job from Daiba TV to shoot some promotional photos.

Tsubasa: Daiba TV... That's where I had my audition...

Itsuki: So that network was involved in both cases: Tsubasa's audition, and the incident with Mr. Horinozawa... That's a little suspicious. Do you think Daiba TV is involved in some way...?

Kiria: Seems plausible. I think there's a good chance the one behind all this is someone within the company.

Maiko: You think so too, huh? I don't want to jump to conclusions... but we don't exactly have any other leads.

Tsubasa: Why would it be a bad thing?

Maiko: People go in and out of those stations all the time.

Tsubasa: Oh, right... That is true...

Maiko: Then again, we may have our winning ticket here. I'll just have to make sure all our numbers line up first. Well, there's still some time until Mamori's show starts, so I think I'll go out for a bit.

>Maiko leaves the office.

To be added...